Vending machine



E. R. KNOTT VENDING MACHINE Aug. 23, 1932.

Filed May 9, 1951 s Sheets-Sheet 1 Au 23, 1932. E, R, RNOTT 1,873,649

VENDING MACHINE Filed May 9, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug. 23, 1932. E. R. KNOTT 1,873,649

VENDING MACHINE Fll'ed Ma 9, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet '5 fa? v 2241M 26 i :1 1.10

VENDING MACHINE Filed y 9, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 14 29 a2 0 31 I /-/27 /63 28 [I i O 31 1e 17 10 1a 1 I 1.2 gj'g E. R. KNOTT VENDING MACHINE Aug. 23, 1932.

Filed May 9, 1931' 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 1W; WQJM; V ywhw Patented Aug. 23, 1932 PATENT:

EUSTA'CE 1i. KNOTT, F snaitomivrnssnoncsnrrs VENDING MACHINE- The invention. has: relation to coin-controlled vending ;machines,- and .has as its ob:- ect the impmlveinent of such machinesso as to make, them more; certa1n,-, pos1t1ve,-. and

[ reliable in their. operation than, prior: de-

vices-of this sort. A further objectis toproviclemachines of this type which are wholly or substantially proofa-gainst: pilfering, az feature: which has beenlackingg in certain prior-devices; A still further object is'to provide. amachine greatly iacilitatingthe performance of a the necessary servicing; 0p-- era-tions, including {the re-lfilling -;0r: re-stock-,

ingrof the machine with the articles T which itisdesired to: dispense, the collection of money deposited by purchasers, the-.repair, adjustment, and replacement ofiparts, and

the testingofithe device to determine that ity is improper operating condition; YViththeseand otlrer.:-obj-ects in:view-, the invention {consists in thei'features of construction,

combination, and operation, shown inthe drawing-s, described in the accompanying;

specificatien, and specifically setforth in the .i claim Lappen'cled hereto;

An illustrative embodiment of the inVen-- tion in itspreferred form. is shown inthe.

accompanying drawings, in which,

toibe'idisp'ensed.

Fig. 2- .is ,assi'derelevation of the-same.

is aplan View in section on line 3; 3,

iofiFig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a section online l, 4, of Fig. '3 on an :enlarged 4 scale, showingythe delivery mechanism at the completion 1 or" a delivery operatiom Figs. 5-, 6-,: and 7 aretop plan, -b ott0m,- a-nd; side views, respectively, of the delivery 1nech-- anism unit.

Fig.8 is: :abottom view-similar to Fig-,6,

with certa'in parts-broken away to show the f delivery mechanism in full.

Bi 9 ris atpartly sectional side elevation,

similarto Fig; 7, showing the delivery mech: anisinabout tozdeliver ,an article from the bottom ofthe stack withinthemagazine,

10 is aviewsiinilarto Fig. 9, showing 1931;v Serial'No. 536,103.

theaction of the support forthe articles din,- ingtheir descent in the: magazine, andal'so showing the feeler blocking the operation of the delivery mechanism whenthe magazine is empty. 7 v

Fig. 11.,is a view similar. to Fig.4), show,- ing: the relation of the'parts of the delivery mechanism as the ejector is being withdrawn from under. the. stack of'articles just prior to the stage illustrated/in Fig; 9. V

Fig. 12 is a detail viewmadeon line 12, 1%, of Fig. 11. i

Fig. .13 isvertical section .on line 13, v13, of Fig. 5..

The features of the invention are shown in the accompanying drawings embodiedin acabinet comprising. a plurality (four) of' magazines for containing stacks ofthe articles to be vended, .and a corresponding number of setsv of coin-controlled delivery mechanism units.

The upper part'of the cabinet 1, as illustrated, is occupied b'y'themagazines 7 while the. lower part 2, thereofis occupied'by the coin-controlled dispensing devices 4, the bank or receptacle 3 for coins which have performed their functions in the said'coin-controlled'dispensing devices, and the chute 5' through which the articles or packages that havevbeen released by coin-controlled dispensing devices 4 are conducted to the purchaser.

The articles .to bedispensed are illustrated as-flat packages 6 which are rectangular in plan, and are adapt'ecl'to be stacked as in Figs. 4;, 7 and '9, within the magazines? The. magazines are iii-the form of upright chutes or guides, of suitable cross-section to receive and take care of the articles orpackages which-are-to be dispensed. In the present. instance theyare rectangular in cross-section, si1nilar-to the packages which they are to contain. They are closed Lon both lateral sides and atthe' back. At the front each magazineijs-open asinFig, 1' so as to facilitate-the stacking of'the packages which are contained'withi'n the magazine, and'to render them more or less accessible from. the front, except that flanges 8 are provided projecting inwardly from the opposite sides of the magazine sufficiently far to extend in front of the packages contained within the magazine so as to prevent forward displacement or removal of the packages. In order to provide for easy introduction of the packages into the magazine from the front the flanges are discontinued adjacent the top of the magazine, as illustrated in Fig. 1. This permits the packages to be introduced into the magazine from the front in handfuls, at a point above the upper ends of the flanges 8, while the descent of the packages into positions below the upper ends of the flanges will place them under the control of the flanges so that forward displacement of the packages relative to the magazine will be prevented. The top corners of the flanges 8 are turned outward to prevent catching of the packages thereon in their descent.

The upper portion of the cabinet is closed in front of the magazines by means of a removable panel or door 9, in connection with which suitable retaining and locking devices are provided in practice. This door has openings 10 therein in front of the lower portions of the magazines to afford a View of the contents of the said lower portions of the magazines, such openings being filled in with sheets of glass, so that the purchaser can observe and ascertain what is to be deliveredto him. In this instance I have shown the said glass as of the familiar wire-reinforced type, to preclude forcible access to the magazines through breakage of the glass.

In order to prevent a package at the top of the magazine from projecting forward relative to the tops of the flanges, in which case the package might catch upon the flanges and be prevented from descent within the magazine, I provide upon the inner face of the removable door or panel projections, in this case constituted by strips or ribs 11, which project rearward from the panel or door sufliciently far to make contact with the front edge of any projecting package, with the result that as the door or panel is pushed into place, the projection or rib will push the package rearward into proper position within the magazine with relation to the flanges, so that the packages will clear the upper ends of the flanges and descend freely within the magazine.

The dispensing devices comprise in connection with each magazine a sliding ejector 12 which is reciprocable frontward and rearward across the open lower end of a magazine, each magazine having an ejector. The said ejector, in this instance, is a platformiikc slide mounted on guideways, comprising the turned-up sides 13 of ashallow trough 130, and for the actuation of the ejector it is connected bymeans of a pair of links M with crank-arms 15 upon a rockshaft 16 that is journalled in suitable supports below the slide and its guideways preferably being affixed to trough 130, the rockshaft being operatively combined, in this instance by means of intermeshing bevel gears 17 and 18, with a manually-operated shaft 19, Fig. 10, connected at its front end by quick-detachable connections to a coin-controlled hand-wheel 20 which may be grasped by the purchaser and utilized for turning the said shaft and thereby operating the rockshaft to impart the necessary forward and rearward movements to the ejector.

The said coin-controlled actuating devices for the delivery mechanism may be of any approved character and construction, it being necessary in practice only that the said operating shaft normally should be locked against manipulation and that the introduction of a proper coin should unlock the shaft and permit rotation of the shaft firstin one direction to position a package in proper relation with the ejector in readiness for the discharge of the package, and then in the reverse direction to 'eflect such discharge with accompanying re-locking of the shaft and also with discharge of the coin which has served its function into the bank 3. Of course, in the choice of coin-controlling mechanism care will be exercised to secure.

the safeguards against fraudulent manipulation which experience in general shows to be advisable and necessary.

Fig. 7 illustratesthe normal waiting position of the parts with the ejector 12 rearward in a position below the corresponding magazine, and with the contents of the ma azine supported by the top surface of the e ector. As will be perceived the cranks Xtend rearward and their pivots connecting them to the links 14 pass a trifle beyond a straight line between the crankshaft and the points of con nection of the links to the ejector so that the ejector is positively toggle-locked in its position and cannot be forced either forward or rearward relative to the magazine and its contents. The unlocking by means of a coin supplied to the coin-controlled actuating devices permits manual turning of the rockshaft clockwise from the position in Fig. 7 to the position in Fig. 9 in which its crankarms are extended forward, and by means of the links the ejector is pulled forward from under the stack of articles or packages 6 within the magazine to a position in front of the said stack. The forward withdrawal of the ejector from beneath the stack permits the latter to descend in the magazine until the bottom article or package 23 rests upon a stationary support. This support may be constituted, if deemed advisable, by the guideways 13 for the ejector, or by parts in connection therewith, as in the present instance. Herein, a plate 22 of sheet metal intermediate the two side guides, and applied to the midportion of the width of the trough 130, as by spot-welding, serves as the support, holding the package which is usually offolded pastethe bottom of the package upabove thebot tom level of the pushing surface 120, Fig. .13, ofthe ejector 12, so that the bottom edges of such surface 120 will not hook into the endof board, in'a manner preventing free tipping and falling of the package when thrust into the chute 5. Through turning movement of the crankshaft in the reverse direction, the

' ejector will be shifted rearward from its forwardly advanced position in Fig. 9 to its position in Fig. 7 In this movement the rear end 24 of the ejector will make contact with the front side of the article or package '7 resting upon the said stationary supporttand will push the same rearward out from under the stack of articles or packages within the magazine and through the exit-opening 1n the rear wall of the magazine, as well as offf from the rear portion of the stationary support so that the article'or package will drop from the said rear portion as indicated in .Fig. 4. At the rear of the magazine, ejector, and stationary support, I provide a delivery chute, the rear portion of which is vertical and disposed in position to receive the articles or packages which are discharged from the magazines by means of tne ejectors; while the lower portion thereof, continuous with the vertical portion, extends forwardly to the front of the cabinet, and is open to permit access to the interior thereof and the removal of'the delivered articles or packages by the purchaser.

The vertical and horizontal portions of the chute are connected by a curved portion, the rear wall of which deflects the falling article or package forwardly so that it glides to the front part of the horizontal portion of the chute. An upstanding flange 25 at the open front end of the chute constitutes a stop to prevent the article from passing entirely out of the said portion of the chute.

As a safeguard in the interest of a contemplating purchaser, in case of the emptying of a magazine of its contents, 1 provide means for preventing the devices, including the coin-controlled controlling devices, from being operated by him far enough to cause loss of his coin to him through being discharged into the coin-receiver or bank. To this end I provide in connection with the ejector a detent 26 for preventing movement of the same out from below the magazine. I

arrange this detent to'be controlled by the contents of the magazine so that solong as one or more articles or packages shall remain 1n the magazine the detent shallbe caused to remain 1nelfect1ve, whereas when the last article or package has been discharged from the magazine the detent is permitted to become operative. The detent in this instance is mounted pivotally' in connection with theslide constituting the ejec- V tor.. It is-arran'gedto swing vertically. It.

tilt into an upturned position as in Fig; 10.

and'has a portion thereof arranged to receive the pressure of an article or package occupying the magazine. So long as such article or package .b'ears upon this portion of the detent, the detent is held rocked in horizontal position as in Fig. 7. his holds the detent in substantially horizontal position with its overweighted portion elevated relative to a stationary stop. Then, however, the detent is relieved from restraining pressure, it tilts'into a vertical position as in Fig. 10 in which its engaging portion hangs downin position to engage with the stationary stop and its upper portion with a stop on the ejector, and consequently through engagement of the detent with the said stops forward movement of the ejector far enough the detent from rising while the ejector is withdrawn from under the stack, and hence from preventing the ejectors re-entering under the pile of articles, I provide a support 27 for the detent during the forward portion of its travel. In this instance I make this support continuous with the platform upon which the articles are supported prior to delivery.

It may happen that a purchaser in manipulating the actuating shaft may turn it less than is necessary in order to withdraw the ejector from beneath the bottom article or package within the magazine. In such case, reverse turning movement of the said shaft for the purpose of moving .the ejector rearward to effect discharge and delivery of the said article or package will act merely, to slide. the ejector rearward beneath the said article or package without causing it to pass out through the exit-opening at the bottom of the magazine or hopper, but with the effect of crowding the said article or package upward in a more or less slanting position against the top of the said opening with the result of jamming the apparatus and preventing the ejector from being caused to resume its starting position. In order to guard againstthis happening I provide a supporter device 28 which is mounted pivotally below the path of the ejector and formed with a platform-like portion which in the normal position of the supporter is in practically the same plane as the stationary guide on which the bottom article or package rests. "See Fig. 9. In such position of the supporter other influence is effective.

the rearward movement of the ejector is operative to push the bottom article or pack age rearward from and over the said platform, thereby effecting discharge of such article or package. When theejector is withdrawn forward past the supporter, the supporter is at once raised to the level of the ejector. t remains at that level, supporting the rear portion of the bottom article until the ejector is almost completely withdrawn,

porter is raised the link is in its farthest rear position. The weight or spring is disposed to move the supporter upward whenever no The connection between the link and the ejector is slotted or extended, so that the forward movement of the ejector engages the link only when the ejector is about to be withdrawn from under ing the operation of the machine.

the pile. Then the forward movement of the ejector carries the link with it and the link in turn lowers the supporter. Once the supporter is lowered, hook 31 engages ear 32 and prevents the weight from raising the supporter. Thus the supporter remains lowered until the rear end of the ejector passes over it. At that time the ejector engages with the link and pushes it rearward, releasing the supporter, but the ejector resting on the supporter prevents the supporter from being raised by the weight or spring. When the ejector is again moved forward it ceases to rest on the supporter and the weight or spring is effective to raise the supporter, after which the cycle of lowering and raising is repeated as often as the machine is operated. The supporter is so shaped that it carries the weight of the articles supported forward of its pivot and since the upper portion of the supporter moves to the rear as it lowers, the tendency of the weight of the articles is to keep the supporter raised rather than to lower it.

A barrier 83 capable of closing the rear opening of the magazine is connected to the ejector. It travels closely to the rear of the article and prevents abstraction of that article and the release of additional articles dur- In this instance it moves through a shorter path than the ejector and is loosely connected to the ejector to permit such relative motion.

Having now described the parts of my invention and their operation, I will explain how the operation of these parts contributes to the various objects of this invention.

In the present machine I have attempted to eliminate all opportunities for pilfering offered by prior devices, and also to eliminate the causes of unreliable operation that exist in these machines.

In order to prevent pilfering, I arrange the parts so that between operations the ejector remains under the pile of articles in the mag azine, leaving a space much less than the depth of one article between the bottom of the rear wall of the magazine and the top of the ejector and no other opening to the magazine. If no coin is inserted in the locking device, the mechanism cannot be moved; to prevent damage to the mechanism if the handle is forced while the lock is in effect, I have provided a soft pin or piece of mechanism to form the only connection between the eX- ternal handle and the operating shaft.

When the locking device is released by the insertion of a proper coin, the operating shaft is released and rotation by the prospective purchaser moves the ejector forward from under the pile. As soon as the ejector is suiiiciently withdrawn, the supporter rises and continues to prevent the bottom article from falling to a point where it would be accessible from the rear. By the time that the supporter is lowered, the rear barrier connected to the ejector has been moved far enough forward that it obstructs the openings below the rear of the magazine. At this time the coin is discharged to the bank and the prospective purchaser reverses the rotation of the handle, pushing the ejector to the rear and ejecting the article that was at the bottom of the pile.

If the shaft were held so that the ejector was largely removed from under the pile, the rear barrier would prevent the extraction of the bottom article, and the possible subsequent removal of subsequent articles as they in turn reached the bottom. The only way that an article can be removed from this situation is to move the ejector and its connected barrier to the rear, shutting ofi access to all subsequent articles except by further insertion of a coin and re-release of the locking device.

As a further guard against pilfering, the delivery is made at the rear of the mechanism and is completed through a curved chute that offers easy passage for the article but is not adapted for use as a channel for the introduction of pilfering instruments.

In preventing pilfering from the vending machine which I have invented, I have also provided devices which tend to eliminate the causes of improper and irregular operation which are found in previous machines designed for vending.

The supporter rises before the ejector is half withdrawn and prevents the pile from tipping and binding suddenly when the edge of the ejector is withdrawn past the center of gravity of the pile. This detail of operation is especially needed if the machine is operated in'aposition differing from the true vertical. When the supporter is lowered, the operation is relatively slow and the amount of motion is only half the thickness of the ejector. This again tends to eliminate binding otherwise caused by the necessary tipping. The final withdrawal of the ejector tilts the pile an equal amount (although a small one) in the opposite direction, tending to undo any binding already existing. After the ejector is entirely withdrawn the supporter is lowered the remaining distance and the pile is again level after having been lowered in three stages instead of the usual two.

A further efi'ect of the supporter is that it holds the top of the rear edge of the article at least as high as the bottom of the magazine until the ejector is completely withdrawn, preventing the ejector, if reversed in direction after being partly withdrawn, from working under one edge of an article while the other edge is projected beyond the bottom edge of the magazine and jammed there.

The platform over which the ejector operates extends far enough to the rear that it continues to support one edge of the article while the other starts to fall into the chute, and thus insuring that the article will fall edgewise, in which position it cannot jam in the slide.

In addition to making my invention more reliable and more proof against pilfering than any now known, I have endeavored to make it as simple as possible for replenishing, collecting, and repairing.

The entire mechanism except the bank is made accessible by opening only one lock: articles can then be replenished quickly in all divisions of the cabinet. The operating mechanism is built in units and set in place, so that an entire unit can be removed for repair Without the use of any tools during the removal.

There is only'one lock for the bank, although the latter is divided for convenience into four parts, so that a complete collection can be made quickly.

What I claim as my invention is In a vending machine having an ejector which slides under a stack of articles to be vended, a supporter operable to lower one edge of the stack gradually while the ejector is being withdrawn from under the other edge.

EUSTACE R. KNOTT. 

